Frequently Asked Questions
In 1990, Congress enacted the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (Title II of Public Law 101-542), which amended the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). This act required all post-secondary institutions participating in HEA’s Title IV student financial assistance programs to disclose campus crime statistics and security information. The Act was amended in 1992, 1998, 2000, and 2008. The 1998 amendments renamed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act are in memory of a student slain in her dorm room in 1986. It is generally referred to as the Clery Act and is in section 485(f) of the HEA.
Crime statistics can be found online within the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) at https://www.westga.edu/cleryact/. A printed copy is available upon request from the University Police Department.
A Clery reportable crime is any crime specified by the Clery Act occurring within the designated Clery Geography of higher learning institutions.
The Clery statistics published within the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) are based on specific crime and geography definitions within the Clery Act. The Crime Log includes ANY crime more serious than a traffic violation reported to the University that occurs within the patrol jurisdiction of the University Police Department. The Crime Log intends to provide a comprehensive look at the crimes occurring on-campus and the immediate surrounding patrol area of the University Police. This means many incidents included on the Crime Log may not be classified as a Clery reportable crime.
A Campus Security Authority (CSA) function is to report to the official or office designated by the institution to collect crime report information, such as the University Police, those allegations of Clery Act Crimes that they receive. CSA's are responsible for reporting allegations of Clery Act Crimes reported to them in their capacity as a CSA. CSA's are not responsible for investigating or reporting incidents:
- overheard in hallway conversations
- mentioned during the in-class discussion
- that a victim says during a speech, workshop, or other forms of a group presentation, or
- otherwise learn indirectly.
- All members of a campus police or security department.
- Individuals responsible for security. Examples include but are not limited to student or professional employees that control or monitor access to campus property, contract or event security, or those who provide safety escorts around campus.
- Anyone the institution designates explicitly as a Campus Security Authority.
- Officials of the institution with significant responsibility for student and campus activities, including, but not limited to, student housing, student discipline, and campus judicial proceedings.
If unsure if you are a CSA, contact the University Clery Coordinator at clery@westga.edu or Human Resources at hr@westga.edu.